Mar 06, 2018

Alpharetta, Ga., March 6, 2018 --- Solvay, a leading global supplier of specialty polymers, announced that its high-performance Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA) resin enabled ECA Medical Instruments to develop its Cervical-One™ single-use surgical instrument set for use in one- and two-level cervical spine implant procedures.

The novel Cervical-One™ kit includes the full complement of robust and ergonomically designed instruments needed by surgeons for cervical plate and interbody fixation, including precision torque-limiters and drivers. In addition to removing cost from individual instruments, the semi-custom design also empowers spinal implant OEMS to cost-effectively tailor or brand their own instrument set.

Compared to reusable instrumentation, ECA’s single-use instrument system can eliminate reprocessing costs, enhance operating room efficiency, streamline hospital and ASC inventory management, and play a significant role in eliminating the root causes of surgical site infections.

“When developing the Cervical-One™ platform, we required an engineered polymer that could withstand torsional, tamping and axial loads applied during the procedure,” said James Schultz, executive vice president for sales and marketing at ECA Medical Instruments. “Ixef® PARA delivers the robust mechanical performance needed for fixation of both cervical plates and screws and interbody devices. We also needed the tactile feel and weight and balance surgeons expect. Solvay’s collaborative support during the design process and proactive regulatory support – trusted throughout the industry – proved critical in reducing our time to market.”

Ixef® PARA compounds offer metal-like strength, rigidity and dimensional stability, while providing an exceptional surface finish. Ixef® PARA is optimized for sterilization using high-energy gamma radiation without significant change in appearance or performance and is available in a range of gamma-stabilized colors. Solvay’s compounds have been evaluated for ISO 10993 limited duration biocompatibility and are supported by an FDA Master Access File (MAF).

“This successful collaboration combines the strengths of both ECA and Solvay – the two leaders in their respective fields,” said Jeff Hrivnak, business manager for Healthcare at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers global business unit. “As leading orthopedic device manufacturers continue their early conversions to single use systems, we are confident that our combined critical mass and industry-relevant experience will deliver real value to potential and existing customers.”

For more information about this application and related news about specialty polymers for healthcare, please go to solvayhealthcarenews.com.

ECA Medical Instruments®, headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is the industry leader in designing and manufacturing precision single-procedure torque-limiting instruments and surgical fixation kits. Founded in 1979, the company has delivered over 35 million torque-limiting instruments and procedural kits to the world’s leading cardio, neuromodulation, orthopaedic and spine implant companies. Every 15 seconds of every day an ECA torque instrument or procedural kit is used to secure a medical implant—one patient at a time. ECA, a LongueVue Capital Partners company, is an ISO 13485, CE Mark certified and FDA registered firm and was named Business of the Year 2017 by LivaNova and earned the LivaNova 2017 Supplier Excellence Award. www.ecamedical.com

Solvay is an advanced materials and specialty chemicals company, committed to developing chemistry that address key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers worldwide in many diverse end markets. Its products are used in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, as well as in mineral and oil and gas extraction, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Its light-weighting materials promote cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 24,500 employees in 61 countries. Net sales were €10.1 billion in 2017, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world's top 3 leaders, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 22%. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program.